Too Tired to Dream, But God is Stirring Something More

Audio By Carbonatix

It is late here in Arkansas. The house is finally quiet, but I’m taking just a minute to dream.

John and I have been married for thirty-six years. With a large family of ten children and over a dozen grandchildren, quiet is a rare and beautiful commodity. I just walked down the hall to check on my in-laws, making sure everyone is settled for the night. Caring for the elderly while still raising teenagers and preparing for our daughter’s high school graduation in just a few weeks carries a heavy emotional load.

Some days, the sheer volume of tasks is so overwhelming that I feel myself slipping into a purely transactional mindset. I just want to check the boxes and get things done. Can you relate?

But I have been actively practicing the power of the pause. Lord, there’s a stirring in my heart … help me to listen.

Before I check on my in-laws, I stop. I take a deep breath. I remind myself: I don’t want to just complete tasks. I want to be helpful and present in their lives. I want to look them in the eye and value their dignity over my immediate to-do list. And maybe that’s where this message begins for you, too.

I also just don’t want to be so busy with tasks that I miss out on what God wants to do in my life. Every time I feel a soft stirring, I’ve discovered that God is adding a chapter to my life story. Writing, Hope Pregnancy Center, leading Bible studies, mentoring teen moms, adopting kids, speaking, health coaching … each of these things grew out of me pausing to listen to God’s still, small voice and praying for insight and direction. 

Yet, pausing is hard, isn’t it? Because if you’re anything like me, your days are full—overflowing, even—with good and meaningful responsibilities. And yet, somewhere underneath all of it, there’s a quiet whisper: What about the dreams God placed in me?

When the Day Ends, But Something in You Is Still Awake

After the day’s tasks are tackled to the best of my ability, and the house settles, my physical energy is often completely drained. Yet I find myself sitting at my desk, pulling up a manuscript. Stories run through my mind nearly every day, and even when I’m tired, it refreshes me to put sentences on paper.

People often ask how I find the strength for one more paragraph when my mental fuel is low. And the truth is, it is rarely about white-knuckled discipline. It is driven by a deep connection to the Why.

Right now, I am turning back to some Amish novels in my most-loved series. Even though the characters are fiction, they feel like family … and I want to visit them again and see what everyone is up to. Those stories demand to be told. And I wonder… Is there something like that in your life? Something that pulls you forward, even when you’re tired?

The Truth About Energy (That No One Talks About)

I have learned over the years that I cannot pour from an empty cup. Tending to my daily habits, eating well, and hydrating simply removes the mental fog. When my body is cared for, my writing finds its clarity. But here’s something else I’ve learned: You don’t need more time to pursue what matters. You need intention.

I never waited for the ideal time to start writing. If you wait for an open schedule, you will never write a single word. My earliest manuscripts were written in the fringes of life.

• On the sidelines of sports games
• During fifteen-minute pockets between homeschool history lessons
• In the margins of a very full life

Every book is its own unique journey. I refuse to let the stumbling blocks of past projects or past rejections dictate my current creativity. I look at the blank page with fresh eyes.

And maybe that’s your invitation too. Not to wait for a perfect season… but to begin in the one you’re already living.

When God Starts Stirring Something New

Lately, I’ve been thinking about something I set aside a long time ago. Back in 1990, after I got married, I paused my college education. Life moved forward quickly, and I never regretted choosing family. But the love of learning never left me. And recently… that quiet whisper has been getting louder. What if?

What if I picked that dream back up?
What if it’s not too late?
What if learning again could actually bring life rather than drain energy?

So I did something simple. I started looking. As I browsed the course catalog at Colorado Christian University, I felt something I didn’t expect: Excitement.

• Biblical Studies.
• Communication.
• Marketing and Sales.

So many possibilities. And instead of feeling overwhelmed, I felt free. Because I realized something important: I don’t have to have it all figured out today. I simply have to take the next step.

For me, that looks like requesting my college transcript… talking to someone at CCU … asking questions. That’s it.

The Battle of the Inner Voice

Stepping into new arenas always brings a hint of hesitation. Whether I am preparing to speak at an upcoming convention in Orlando or recording a new podcast with dear friends like Amber Lia and Julie Hittleman (more to come about that!), it still requires a leap of faith. And yes, the inner critic always shows up. It whispers:

• You’re not enough.
• You’re too late.
• Someone else could do this better.

But I’ve learned where to anchor myself. My identity is entirely in Christ. When the goal shifts from proving myself to serving others, that voice of imposter syndrome loses its power.

Holding Dreams with Open Hands

Henry Blackaby wrote, “Find out where God is at work, and join Him there.” That has become a guiding principle in my life … along with Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I hold my professional ambitions loosely. Instead, I listen and ask questions. I take tiny steps. I plan. I prepare. I take more steps. But ultimately, I surrender the outcome.

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” And that takes the pressure off. Because this journey—whether it’s writing a book, going back to school, or simply exploring a new interest—isn’t about control. It’s about obedience. It’s about the dreams God had for me before I even breathed one breath.

The Sacredness of Small Things

Everything intertwines. The way we do one thing is truly the way we do everything. The patience required to decipher a historical document is the exact same patience needed to sit with an aging parent.

The faithfulness to write one more sentence is the same faithfulness to guide a child through one more math lesson. Or to help my mother-in-law, Darlyne, with a simple daily task. We often look for big, breakthrough moments. But God works in the small ones.

Zechariah 4:10 asks, “For who has despised the day of small things?” The truth is, our lives are built there. In the quiet acts of obedience. In the unseen faithfulness. In the next right step.

A Question for You

So let me ask you something, friend: Do my words stir something within your heart? Do you feel the weight of responsibility so heavily that your own dreams feel out of reach? Is there something God placed on your heart years ago… something you quietly set aside?

What if you gave yourself permission to ask: What if? Not to change everything overnight or add pressure to your already full life, but simply to explore. To wonder, and maybe to take one small step.

You Don’t Need the Whole Staircase

You do not need to see the whole staircase to take the first step. You only need to do the next right thing with the time you have been given today. That’s where I am. I don’t have a perfect plan or endless energy. I do have a willing heart, and maybe that’s enough for you, too.

Remember, the God who placed that dream in your heart is the same God who will walk with you as you take the next step.

A Prayer for the Stirring Heart

Heavenly Father,

I come to You at the end of a very full day. My hands are busy, and my physical energy is often drained, but my heart is listening for Your still, small voice. Thank You for the beautiful, meaningful responsibilities You have entrusted to me.

Lord, when the sheer volume of tasks feels heavy, remind me to embrace the power of the pause. Keep my eyes focused on the dignity of the people around me, rather than just the to-do list in front of me. I want to seek Your kingdom first, trusting that You will provide exactly what I need (Matthew 6:33).

Father, I feel a soft stirring within me. Give me the courage to explore the desires You placed in my heart before I even breathed my first breath. Silence the inner critic that tells me I am too late or not enough. Anchor my identity entirely in Christ.

I hold my ambitions with open hands. I will make my plans and take tiny steps, but I completely surrender the outcome to You, knowing that You are the one who establishes my steps (Proverbs 16:9). Grant me the faithfulness to honor the quiet acts of obedience, and let me never despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10).

I do not need to see the entire path ahead. I only ask for a willing heart to do the next right thing with the time You have given me today.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

First Step to a New Calling

Consider what happens when God places a new calling on your heart. For years, you have poured your energy into your family, managing the beautiful demands of motherhood. Yet, a quiet nudging remains, urging you to develop the specific gifts He has given you. Each of us is deeply driven by a need for purpose and a desire to contribute to something larger than ourselves. Why? God put that in us. He’s had dreams for you before you were born.

What If You Said Yes?

Over time, people do not typically regret the leaps of faith they took. Instead, they mourn the chances they ignored and the dreams they left unpursued. Stepping into a new season to cultivate your talents is not selfish. It is a vital act of stewardship.

Colorado Christian University is uniquely equipped to support men, women … and yes, mothers … who are ready to answer that call. They provide an academically rigorous, faith-filled environment designed to help you transform your God-given dreams into tangible skills. The best thing is, you can take one class at a time. A tiny step in the right direction.

If you feel that God is telling you it’s the right season to take the next step, do not let hesitation hold you back. CCU is offering a special scholarship right now. 

$10,000 and $5,000 Grand Prize Scholarships

All other eligible entrants will receive a $1,000 scholarship just for entering.

Enter the CCU Spring 2026 Scholarship Contest by June 12 for your chance to win a scholarship to complete your degree 100% online at CCU. This contest is for new students only.

Explore the opportunity and embrace your next chapter here!